A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible: Seeing and Knowing God's Word

Wow. I've had this book since its release, and it's taken me this long to think about what to say about it. In the meantime I've shown it to two of the pastors at my church; it's much easier to show the print copy than to describe it! My bottom line: I think this book is great for new Christians and for discipleship. But it's also a good review for even long-time believers, as well as a valuable source of information for defending our faith. The graphics are a huge help for visual learners. But I'm not especially a visual learner and I still found that the graphics helped to cement the concepts in my mind. Other resources, such as slides and a leader's guide, are available. I don't know whether Amazon carries them. I've given you my bottom line thoughts, but here are the specifics: The images in the product description will give you a taste of the infographics in this book. I wish it had a "Look Inside" option or an image of the Table of Contents. I don't think it's a copyright infringement to share this (somewhat blurry) image of the Contents page. As you'll see, the three major sections are Trusting the Bible, Studying the Bible, and Seeing the Bible. Section 1, Trusting the Bible, includes some statistics (how many books, how many authors), but also how the books of the Bible were compiled, how the included books were chosen and others rejected, and how we know that the Bible is true. This last part, especially, is helpful in apologetics. Section 2, Studying the Bible, tells why we should and how we can study the Bible. Certainly other study methods exist, but this one is straightforward and is a good starting point. Section 3, Seeing the Bible, is an overview of the Bible with a strong thread of Jesus woven throughout. We see how Jesus fulfills not only prophecy but also the longings of Israel from the time of Jacob. One of my favorite graphics is called "The New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34, ESV." This is the text of that passage, marked up to show at least nine references to the New Covenant and what it means. I just love how the authors show how Jesus is woven through the entire Bible. In fact, near the beginning AND the end of the book you'll find a two-page image of "Jesus Cover to Cover," from the need for Jesus in Genesis to consummation of Jesus in Revelation.

Is it just me? Or have you, too, found it challenging to winningly introduce the Bible to people who are unfamiliar with it? That has certainly been my experience in the nursing home where I’ve been serving for nearly two decades. In this environment, it’s rare to talk with someone who has even read the entire Bible, let alone studied it in any depth. Most residents’ familiarity with Scripture is limited to hearing a few passages read aloud in church each week (and even that is becoming increasingly uncommon). So how exactly can one convey the Bible’s unrivaled significance as the inspired and inerrant Word of God—the only book that, as the Gideons so lovingly describe it, “contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers”? Here’s a great new solution: A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible by pastors Tim Challies and Josh Byers (Zondervan, 2019). If that title sounds a little heavy, check out the subtitle: Seeing and Knowing God’s Word. Then take a gander at the book’s inviting cover and flip through its lively content. You’ll discover that there’s nothing imposing or forbidding about this beautifully organized and illustrated volume. And oh, the content! “Part 1: Trusting the Bible” sets the stage, describing everything from what the Bible is and how it was written to how we know that we can trust it. “Part 2: Studying the Bible” explains why we should study this book, and how exactly to go about it. “Part 3: Seeing the Bible” goes through the Word of God section by section. The authors take the reader from creation, the fall of man and the flood through Israel’s history, from Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection through the birth of the church and, of course, the end of the story. Throughout, the authors have captured key points in irresistible infographics that were surely designed to aid both understanding and memory. Perhaps my favorite example, perfect for anyone who fears that the Bible has changed over the millennia: a three-page section entitled “Has the Bible Really Been Preserved for Us Today?” (pages 32-34). With very few words but arresting artwork, they compare the New Testament to other ancient works from Tacitus’s Annals to Plato’s Tetralogies and Homer’s Iliad. The only logical conclusion? “[T]here is overwhelming evidence that the text of the New Testament we have today is the same as the original.” I’ve been using excerpts from this book at the nursing home, both in one-on-one visits and during our weekly Bible Discussions, with uniformly happy results. Challies and Byers have explained these critical concepts much more concisely and compellingly than I ever could have. In the process, I’ve also learned a lot from them—even though as a former skeptic who fought mightily against embracing the Bible, I did extensive research into most of these subjects many years ago. Bottom line: I recommend this book highly.

Excellent way to teach the Bible using very colorful pages with precise information. It could really inspire a beginning Bible student (or a more "seasoned saint") to dig deeper to find more TREASURE in the Book of books!! It is a quick read and even an excellent junior high student could get a lot out of it!!!! It is JAM PACKED with fun and precise teaching from a conservative Biblical point of view.

A creative and impactful overview of the Bible. This book strikes a balance between simplicity and depth. The graphics engage your eyes and capture your attention; the theological content is solidly conservative. This is not a book that will give you much detail on each of the 66 books. Rather, it looks at the 66 books from a 30,000 foot view to see the major themes and the story of redemption. It will encourage you to dig deeper into the Bible to discover God's truth on your own. The first two sections on how the Bible came into existence, and the second on why and how to study the Bible are particular good. This is a book that you will come back to again and again for reference. I highly recommend it!

Loveeeee, great resource for visual learners

Coming from a childhood in an evangelical church and education at a Christian university, this book did not bring many new insights to the table. BUT of course it is still engaging and contained some "aha" moments where the author's helped connect new dots in my mind. At first I was disappointed because I was way more focused on the "Visual Theology" part of the title and less on the "Guide to the Bible" part of the title. This is 100% a Guide to the Bible Plus Graphics to Help Illustrate. There is no discussion of systematic theological topics, it is a completely factual summary of broad biblical themes and the biblical story. However, there are a few charts and graphics that DID make me stare at them in Bible-nerd admiration for quite some time. These would include the chart of the Psalms (p. 148) and the timeline of the Kings and prophets of Israel and Judah (p. 143). I won't spoil them with a picture, you'll have to buy the book to check out these worthwhile graphics. But oh how I long for a book filled with charts like these. Too many of the graphics throughout this book are simply filler graphics. I will probably use this as a theology textbook for my young children someday. I might even buy this book for a new Christian or someone who hasn't had a formal education about the structure of the Bible. This is not new information for a pastor or seasoned believer, but Challies', Byers', and Schwartz's summation is still a necessary volume to bring Christians to a healthy approach to the Bible.

We give this gift every hear to our high school graduates.

If you are looking to strengthen your faith journey, this book was very helpful for me. Someone had recommended it to me and it is easy to follow.

This is a great introductory book to the bible. Ideal for studying. The graphics help greatly. A+

Came in good shape. This is the second one I bought. The first one for myself and this one for a gift. Definitely recommend especially for those visual learners!

What I love about this book so far is how it doesn't try to answer the questions that every religion answers differently. It just shows you how to ask them. A great resource if you are wondering how to see the Bible as more than just a coffee table book. I haven't finished it yet, but so far this book really shows me how interconnected the entire Bible is.

Simply laid out so easy to understand

Great visually and eye catching.